The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of energy efficiency grant schemes to support homeowners to retrofit their properties. This has resulted in warmer, healthier and more comfortable homes that are easier and cheaper to heat and light. Budget 2021 provides €221.5 million in capital funding for SEAI residential and community retrofit programmes. This represents an 82% increase on the 2020 allocation and is the largest amount ever for the schemes.
The Better Energy Homes Scheme provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their home. Fixed grants covering around 30% of the works are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER).
The number of households who applied and received grant aid from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for attic, wall and other insulation grants in 2019 and 2020 is outlined below:
Better Energy Homes Scheme
|
2019
|
2020
|
|
No. of Homes Completed
|
No. of Homes Completed
|
Roof Insulation
|
3,392
|
2,678
|
Cavity Wall Insulation
|
2,986
|
2,159
|
Dry Lining Insulation
|
443
|
343
|
External Wall Insulation
|
1,334
|
1,131
|
The individual breakdown is not held by SEAI in this format for other schemes such as Better Energy Warmer Homes and Warmth and Wellbeing. However, the combined number of homes in receipt of attic, wall and/or other insulation grants is outlined below:
Better Energy Warmer Homes and Warmth and Wellbeing
|
2019
|
2020
|
No. Homes in receipt of attic, wall and/or other insulation grants
|
3,315
|
1,524
|
In relation to Better Energy Communities, the number of homes which received grants under the scheme in each of those years, for which attic, wall and other insulation grants may make up part of a larger suite of upgrades are outlined below:
Better Energy Communities
|
2019
|
2020
|
|
582
|
656
|